Characteristics before and at entry into the trial
| Placebo (n=49) | Mianserin (n=51) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mean age (SD) | 54.7 (10.1) | 55.7 (11.1) |
| Men | 32 (65.3%) | 36 (70.6%) |
| Previous diseases: | ||
| Stroke | 11 (22.4%) | 12 (23.5%) |
| Hypertension | 24 (49.0%) | 25 (49.0%) |
| Heart disease2-150 | 10 (20.8%) | 17 (34.0%) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 (20.4%) | 10 (19.6%) |
| Peripheral arterial disease | 6 (12.5%) | 6 (12.0%) |
| Status on admission: | ||
| Mean SSS (SD) | 42.8 (10.9) | 44.4 (12.4) |
| Stratified subgroup: | ||
| Left hemisphere | 14 (28.6%) | 15 (29.4%) |
| Right hemisphere | 19 (38.8%) | 18 (35.3%) |
| Brain stem | 9 (18.4%) | 11 (21.6%) |
| Severe aphasia | 7 (14.3%) | 7 (13.7%) |
| Mean Barthel index (SD) | 13.9 (4.4) | 14.9 (4.6) |
| Mean Rankin scale (SD) | 3.7 (1.0) | 3.6 (1.1) |
↵2-150 Includes coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and other signs of significant heart disease.
SSS=Scandinavian stroke scale. One aphasic patient had a right sided hemispheric lesion, others had a left hemispheric lesion.